Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (lta) platforms

ABSTRACT

Innovative new systems and method of operating the systems, wherein the system comprises an airborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon; a payload that is separate from the unmanned balloon; a transceiver; first and second flight termination devices; at least two separate power sources for the first and second flight termination devices; a sensor; a processor; a pump; a valve; and a tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and the payload, are disclosed herein.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This present application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/473,691, filed Aug. 29, 2014 (now allowed),which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/757,585,filed Feb. 1, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,825,232, issued Sep. 2, 2014),which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/099,004,filed Apr. 7, 2008, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/673,474, filed Sep. 30, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,390,issued Apr. 8, 2008), which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/129,666, filed May 9, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,203,491, issued Apr. 10, 2007), filed as National Stage ofPCT/US02/12228 filed Apr. 18, 2002, which claims benefit to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/284,799 filed Apr. 18, 2001; the contentsof all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to unmanned lighter-than-air platformsoperating in the stratosphere and more particularly, their terminationand recovery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unmanned lighter-than-air ballooncraft have been used for many years toperform tasks such as near space research, and meteorologicalmeasurements. Such ballooncraft have even carried payloads withinstrumentation that sometimes includes radio transmission capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air free floatingplatforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flighttermination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing andrecovery of these devices are provided. Especially, termination of radiotransmissions and flight related to regional, governmental andinternational border requirements, regulations and laws. The presentinvention provides methods comprising specific criteria, detection ofthe criteria and elements of operation for reducing or preventingillegal transmissions, for producing rapid descend to the ground, forenvironmentally acceptable landing and for facilitating recovery allwith improved safety and enhanced compliance with known regulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention may be had with reference to theattached drawing Figures in connection with the Detailed Descriptionbelow in which like numerals represent like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a flow diagram of combined methods of atermination decision by a processor including termination criteria,criteria detection by sensing of geographic position and velocity andelements of operation according to certain aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically depict a mechanism for providing and for releasingballast according to certain aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial front view of a neck of a platformconnecting between a balloon and a payload and depicting theconstruction and method of releasing a balloon from the payloadplatform;

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial front view of the neck of a platformconnecting between a balloon and a payload as in FIG. 3 furtherdepicting the release of the balloon from the payload platform;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for a battery discharge and neck releasecircuit;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are front side and end views, respectively, of a “mapleseed” descent mechanism attached to the bottom of a platform accordingto one embodiment of certain aspects of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic depiction of a landed terminated platform (withoutballoon) transmitting a locator signal to a floating platformtransceiver that relays the locator information to a ground station tofacilitate recovery of the terminated platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has been found that the previous largest use of unmannedlighter-than-air ballooncraft has been by the various weather servicesof the world. For weather data acquisition purposes small latex weatherballoons carry instrument packages called radiosondes to gather theweather data. These weather balloons are launched from a network ofsites around the world at noon and midnight Greenwich Mean Time eachday. The weather service radiosondes collect temperature, humidity,pressure and wind data as they rise from the surface of the Earth toapproximately 100,000 feet during a two-hour flight comprising ascentand rapid descent. At approximately 100,000 feet the weather balloonsburst and the radiosonde payload falls to earth on a parachute. Thisdata acquire during the ascent is input into atmospheric models run onsupercomputers to facilitate predicting the weather. The input data islimited as it represents only a snapshot of the weather data takenduring the balloon ascent every 12 hours. The ascent and decent israpid, mostly within country borders. Also, most countries of the worldare bound by treaty to launch balloon carried radiosondes fromdesignated sites and to share the data with other countries such thatshort duration radio transmissions and physically crossing borders isnot any major issue.

Currently there are about 800,000 radiosondes launched each yearthroughout the world. There are also a small number of radiosondeslaunched for military and research purposes. The research balloonstypically are done using special frequencies and with international orindividual country permission for border crossing. The total numberprimarily represents the 997 global weather stations launching tworadiosondes per day, 365 days per year (727,000). Only about 18% ofthese radiosondes are recovered, reconditioned and reclaimed, resultingin the new production of about 650,000 weather-gathering radiosondes peryear.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibits uncontrolledtransmitters as they may cause interference to users on the samefrequency or others on nearby frequencies. FCC spectrum licensesprohibit a US licensed transmitter from transmitting when it leaves theborder of the US.

It has been found that most lighter-than-air platforms that maintainaltitude drop ballast to maintain altitude as lifting gas is lostthrough the balloon membrane that floats the platform. The FederalAviation Administration (FAA) regulations Section 101.7 states thatunmanned ballooncraft are prohibited from dropping objects or operationsuch that a hazard may occur.

Sec. 101.7 Hazardous Operations.

(a) No person may operate any moored balloon, kite, unmanned rocket, orunmanned free balloon in a manner that creates a hazard to otherpersons, or their property.

(b) No person operating any moored balloon, kite, unmanned rocket, orunmanned free balloon may allow an object to be dropped there from, ifsuch action creates a hazard to other persons or their property.

(Sec. 6(c), Department of Transportation Act (49 U. S.C. 1655(c))[Doc. No. 12800, Arndt. 101-4, 39 FR 22252, Jun. 21, 1974]

A major factor influencing the size and cost of a lighter-than-airplatform is the weight of the payload. For small ballooncraft such asweather balloons, they may become exempt from certain FAA reporting,lighting, and launching requirements if the total payload weight is keptbelow 6 pounds and a density of 3 ounces or less per square inch of thesmallest side.

Sec.101.1 (4) Applicability.

(a) This part prescribes rules governing the operation in the UnitedStates, of the following:

-   (4) Except as provided for in Sec. 101.7, any unmanned free balloon    that-   (i) Carries a payload package that weighs more than four pounds and    has a weight/size ratio of more than three ounces per square inch on    any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight    in ounces of the payload package by the area in square inches of its    smallest surface;-   (ii) Carries a payload package that weighs more than six pounds;-   [Doc. No. 1580,28 FR 6721, Jun. 29, 1963, as amended by Arndt.    101-1, 29 FR 46, Jan. 3, 1964; Arndt. 101-3, 35 FR 8213, May 26,    1970]

The unique use of a low-density payload also significantly reduces costsassociated with the launch and allows a launch to occur in all weatherconditions. The amount of ballast required to keep a platform within aset altitude range over a 24-hour period is typically on the order of15% of the total system weight. This is a significant percentage of thetotal weight for a floating platform or ballooncraft mission lastingover multiple days. For example, it has been found that a three dayflight may require that 38% of the platform's system weight be ballast.This either significantly increases the size of the balloon or decreasesthe weight available for the payload.

The two sections of the FAA regulations above show the FAA's concernwith increased payload weights and increased densities. This appears tofocus on reducing the potential for damage to an aircraft in acollision. The density and total weight of the payload are also found tobe significant factors in overall safety upon the payload's return tothe earth. Generally lower weight and density payloads, are believed toreduced chances of causing physical damage, and as a beneficial resultmay also be easier and less costly to insure as well.

The FAA further prohibits uncontrolled lighter-than-air balloons. Againthere may be a concern that uncontrolled flight may present a hazard toaircraft. For example, in 1998, a large uncontrolled scientific balloonlaunched by the Canadian Space Agency prompted re-routing oftrans-Atlantic passenger flights for 10 days as it drifted from itslaunch site in Canada until it finally landed in Finland. Theuncontrolled balloon also resulted in aviation concerns in Russia andNorway. Significant resources were expended, including the use offighter jets to try to bring the uncontrolled balloon down.

Until now, unmanned, free drifting, lighter-than-air balloons have beeneither restricted to short flights as is the case with the 50,000 NWSweather balloons launched each year, or a very few large and expensivelong duration scientific flights. The NWS weather balloons have anextremely limited life (approximately 2 hours) and their transmittersand batteries have limited power. The long duration scientific balloonstypically have long lives and extended missions. These infrequentballooncraft flights are expensive and generally require frequency andsafety coordination with each country that they overfly. They may gainauthorization to use government or scientific frequencies for shortperiods of time that are not available for commercial users.

Applicants, as disclosed in a co-pending application, have discoveredand developed new and commercially viable uses for small free-floatingplatforms with long duration capabilities. These small, long durationballooncraft or free floating platforms have long flight lives similarto much larger scientific ballooncraft and the ability to travel longdistances. The present methods and inventive devices facilitate avoidingthe massive reporting and coordination requirements of the largerballooncraft. The free-floating platforms may be operating on commercialfrequencies that have specific laws as to the use of the frequencies ineach country. The innovative new methods facilitate maintenance of legaltransmitter operations, particularly at borders, they provide forplatform flight termination for rogue, uncontrolled or malfunctioningplatforms, they provide for environmentally acceptable descent and theyenhance the opportunity for recovery and reuse of these devices. All ofthese methods are especially useful as they relate to regional andinternational borders. The present invention uses specific criteria andelements of operation or sets of criteria and elements of operation thattaken as a whole form a safe method for reducing or preventing illegaltransmissions, for terminating flight, for rapidly descending theplatform to the ground, for environmentally acceptable landing and forenhanced recovery. All the methods are designed to enhance safety and tocomply with known regulations.

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a flow diagram of combined methods of atermination decision by a processor including termination criteria,criteria detection by sensing of geographic position and velocity, andelements of operation according to certain aspects of the invention. Incombination with an onboard power source 12 and GPS 14 (or othergeographic locator or tracking system), a processor 10 is provided toreceive position information and time change of position (velocity)information 14. The position information is compared to stored orprogrammed criteria information at 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, todetermine whether termination of radio transmission and/or terminationof flight should be implemented.

The following criteria based decisions are provided with the processor10:

Has the platform moved or drifted outside of a certain geographic area?(See FIG. 1, at 16.)

The relevant boundaries may be frequency license borders set by the FCCas dictated by a regional or nationwide broadcasting license. The FCCprohibits transmitter operation outside such geographic borders.Additionally, a neighboring country may have restrictions on transmittedpower into their country from a United States transmitter. It has beenfound that on certain frequencies Mexico prohibits transmit power levelsabove −99 dBm into Mexico from the United States. These restrictions arenot hard for terrestrial towers as they can use directional antennasonce during installation and not have to adjust them again thereafter.This is quite different for a free drifting high altitude ballooncraftas the position and altitude may be constantly changing and may requirethe platform to stop transmitting while still inside the United States,but within a protective number of miles of the United States-Mexicoborder. Long duration scientific ballooncraft are not as concerned withthis as they typically work on special frequencies or have coordinatedwith other countries that may be over flown.

Is the platform moving outside of boundaries that would significantlyreduce the probability of recovering the platform? (See FIG. 1 at 18.)

As payloads costs may be significant, from $50 to $150 for a typicalweather service radiosonde, up to hundreds of dollars for a transceiverplatform, and up to many tens of thousands of dollars for a scientificpayload, recovery is important both financially and for environmentalreasons. A platform may encounter strong winds especially in the jetstream as it descends from high altitudes. In order to keep the platformfrom drifting out of the country on descent, artificial borders thattake into account the winds during descent can be used. Also, boundariesof large bodies of water such as the great lakes, seas and oceans thecrossing of which might hamper or prevent recovery of the platform uponnormal decent, may be taken into account for termination of flightpurposes.

Has the platform fallen below or risen above a set altitude range? (SeeFIG. 1 at 20)

Most scientific and weather balloons reach altitudes above 60,000 feet,The FAA regulates airspace below 60,000 feet and discourages freefloating craft or uncontrolled flight craft from loitering especially incommercial air lanes as they present a hazard to commercial planes.Current NWS weather balloons do not have the capability to terminate theflight if they start to hover below 60,000 feet. Even the large-scalescientific balloons may become errant and free drift below 60,000 feet.(see the rogue scientific balloon example listed earlier). There is astrong need for a ballooncraft to terminate it's flight if it is not inthe proper altitude range.

Is the platform velocity sufficient to create an unacceptably largeDoppler shift in the transmission frequency? (See FIG. 1, at 22)

A ballooncraft traveling in the jet stream may reach speeds of over 180miles per hour. This creates a Doppler shift in the frequencies receivedon the ground. The FCC regulates the amount of total frequency driftallowed on a commercial transmission. Doppler shift contributes to thistotal frequency drift and if great enough can cause the transmitter totransmit out of its allowed band. These requirements have not beenconsidered or accounted for in the past as free drifting commerciallytransmitting platforms were not available. Therefore, the requirementthat the payload be able to immediately stop transmitting past the speedat which the Doppler becomes too great is new.

Does the platform fall rate indicate a balloon burst? (See FIG. 1, at24.)

A fast fall rate indicates that the balloon has burst and that the craftis falling. The transmission of radio signals should be terminated andthe other termination actions should be promptly initiated.

Is the lighter-than-air platform rising too slow? (See FIG. 1, at 26.)

This indicates that the balloon is under-filled or leaking. A slow riserate may present a danger to aircraft by loitering excessively at onealtitude particularly at an altitude in designated air lanes.

Has the processor, the position finding equipment, or the primary powerfailed? (See FIG. 1, at 28.)

A GPS, star tracker, or system power failure will cause an on-boardtermination. The platform must be able to terminate without processorcontrol or power.

Have command and control communications been lost? (See FIG. 1, at 30.)Without command and control from the ground, the payload should ceasetransmission and the flight must should be terminate.

The present inventive system detects the foregoing conditions bycomparing current position, velocity, and operating conditions tostored, programmed or calculated criteria using an onboard processor.The present invention utilizes a GPS unit and a processor to determinethe current platform's geographic coordinates and velocities. A GPS unitor pressure sensor determines the platform altitude. The processoralgorithms will implement the complete set of conditions listed abovecausing the ballast to be released at 34, the transmitter to be shut offat 38 and the flight terminated at 36 upon detection of a stored,programmed or calculated termination criteria. Under conditions of apower loss or processor failure, the transmitter will also be shut offat 38, and the flight will be terminated at 36. The methods andmechanisms for the termination actions are described more fully below.

A separate termination controller 11 under separate power 13 monitorsthe primary platform power at 32 and monitors processor functions at 30to determine if the processor 10 is functioning properly. Both theprimary processor 10 and the separate termination controller 11 have theability to terminate transmissions, by discharging the primary platformbatteries at 38 and to terminate the flight by releasing the balloon at36. The separate power source 13 may advantageously comprise a verysmall environmentally acceptable battery such as an alkaline watchbattery.

The present invention solves certain past needs. This inventiondescribes a system, method and design for use with lighter-than-airplatforms that overcomes certain safety drawbacks of conventionalunmanned lighter-than-air ballooncraft. The processor reduces oreliminates the chance of the platform becoming a free floating,uncontrolled transmitter by monitoring sensed coordinates and platformvelocities (GPS, star tracker, etc) and by comparing the sensedinformation to known (stored, programmed or calculated) geographic oraltitude based boundaries. If the processor determines that the platformis out of its proper boundaries, termination is started. If the GPSfails, the processor also initiates termination. If the processorfunction unacceptably fails or if the primary power fails, terminationand recovery is also automatically initiated with a secondarytermination control circuit having its own small and environmentallyacceptable power source. This does not require power from the primarypower source of the platform.

Termination and recovery comprise several steps or actions as follows:

Releasing all ballast to reduce the payload density and weight. Attermination, all ballast is released automatically according to amechanism as schematically depicted in FIG. 2. Ballast system andrelease mechanism

Both reactant A in Chamber A (100) and reactant B in Chamber B (101) ismetered into the reaction chamber (104) where hydrogen generationoccurs. The relative size of each of the two chambers is determined bythe molar ratio of the reaction. If water is used as one of thereactants and a fuel cell is used on the platform for generating power,the water byproduct of the fuel cell's reaction may be used for theballast system reaction as one of the reactants. Different meteringrates would be required for each reactant if the molar ratio of thereactants were not 1 to 1. This could be done with a dual peristalsispump (102) if the tubing diameters were adjusted to pump the appropriateamount from each reactant chamber. During the reaction, hydrogen isvented from the reaction chamber through a tube (107) into the balloon.A one-way valve (106) in the tube to the balloon prevents hydrogen fromflowing back into the reaction chamber. After the reaction is complete,the byproduct is dropped as ballast from the bottom of the reactionchamber (104) through an electrically actuated valve (105). The valve(105) is then closed. Unless the balloon has burst, upon flighttermination, the reactants will be reacted as quickly as safely possiblein the reaction chamber (104) and the byproducts dropped as ballast. Ifthe balloon has burst, the pumps may not be to pump as effectively fromthe chambers unless the chambers have a slight pressure and no air isallowed in them.

In a second configuration (not depicted), the ballast system comprisestwo cavities each containing one of the two reactants. The reactant inthe top cavity is metered into the lower cavity where the hydrogengeneration occurs. The reaction byproducts are only released as ballastwhen all of the original reactants are depleted.

This makes the payload lighter and therefore safer in the event ofcollision with aircraft or persons and property on the ground. While anyacceptable ballast could be released, the novel ballast system describedabove effectively reduces the actual weight of ballast required by asystem thereby increasing the safety of the payload. In the novelballast system the total amount of ballast carried to provide longduration flight at an acceptable altitude is significantly reduced.Reducing the amount of ballast should in most cases increase safety. Inone specific example, the system uses water and either Sodium Hydride orCalcium Hydride as the ballast. When additional altitude is required, aquantity of water is added to a quantity of Sodium Hydride or CalciumHydride. A large volume of hydrogen gas is generated. This hydrogen isadded to the lifting balloon and the byproducts of the reaction aredropped as ballast. The platform becomes lighter due to the dropping ofthe Ca(OH)2 or Na(OH)2 byproduct and at the same time, hydrogen is addedto the balloon increasing lift. Only 73% (75% for Sodium Hydride) of anequivalent weight of inert ballast such as sand is needed. As ballastcan be a significant portion of the initial total weight, reducing theweight of the ballast significantly reduces the total weight of thepayload.

Releasing the neck of the balloon from the platform to initiate a quickdescent.

This makes sure the platform descends quickly through the atmospherethereby reducing the potential time through the commercial air lanes.Small balloon systems such as the NWS weather balloons rely on theballoon bursting due to expansion as it rises through the atmosphere. Ahovering balloon does not experience this expansion and therefore musteither have a system to burst the balloon or physically separate fromthe balloon. Venting the balloon is generally not acceptable because ofthe danger of the balloon drifting laterally on the ground increases thechance of personal or property damage. A further problem would occur ifhydrogen was used as the lifting gas. This could create a possibility ofhydrogen remaining in the balloon after landing and becoming a potentialignition source. Bursting the balloon is also less desirable as theburst balloon still attached to the payload may foul the descentmechanism causing an uncontrolled descent. In the invention, the neck ofthe ballooncraft is released when power is lost or the processor fails.

One possible implementation of the neck release mechanism as depictedschematically in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises two concentric neck connectiontubes (43) and (49). The top tube (43) is attached to the balloon (41)with a strap (42) or rubber band (42) and fits within the bottom tube(49), which is attached to the payload (51). The top tube (43) isrestrained from sliding out of the bottom tube (49) by a piece ofmonofilament line (47). While top tube (43) and bottom tube (49) arerestrained to each other, flexible seal (44) prevents gas in the tubesfrom leaking at the junction of the tubes. Each end of the monofilamentline (47) is threaded through a small hole in flange (46) and tied off.The monofilament line (47) is threaded around two knobs (52) and alsothrough and in contact with an electrically resistive coil (48).

When thermination of the flight is called for, the ballast is preferablyreleased first and then a discharge circuit passes current through theresistive coil (48). The coil heats (48) up and melts through themonofilament line (47). The weight of the payload (51) now pulls thebottom tube (49) from the top tube and the payload is released from toptube (43).and thus from the balloon (41). This ballast systemadvantageously allows for the venting of the lifting gas directly at thepayload eliminating the need for wiring to remote valves. Integration ofthe actuator electronics simplifies the design and ultimately thereliability of the platform.

The battery discharge and neck release circuit is schematically depictedin FIG. 5. The processor must constantly supply a keep alive signal tothe battery discharge circuit in order to prevent the batteries fromdischarging. This keep alive signal consists of a square wave. Thebattery discharge circuit senses the low to high transitions in the keepalive signal and resets the timer (a HEF 4060) each time the transitionis detected. The timer must be reset by the presence of the keep alivesquare wave or the timer will end it's counting and initiate the batterydischarge. A high power FET closes the circuit that discharges thebatteries. In one implementation of the discharge circuit, the powerfrom the discharge circuit comes from the main batteries themselves.Because the discharge circuitry can function down to extremely lowbattery voltages, the batteries are effectively discharged by the timethe discharge circuit is unable to function.

An alternate implementation uses a separate, non-hazardous, smallbattery to operate the discharge circuitry. This implementation ensuresthat the main batteries are completely discharged. The discharge circuitdissipates power through the resistive wire that during batterydischarge, dissipates the energy as heat. The resistive wire is wrappedaround a piece of monofilament (fishing) line. When the battery power isdissipated through the resistive wire, the monofilament line is meltedthrough and the neck connecting the balloon to the platform is releasedfrom the payload. Another advantage of providing a separate power sourcefor the discharge circuit is that the discharge circuit battery willsupply the resistive element with power to cut the monofilament lineeven if the main batteries are dead. As an alternative, the dischargecircuit could dissipate power through a high power resistor if the neckrelease function were not used.

If the processor senses any of the conditions necessary to initiatetermination, it ceases sending the keep alive signal to the dischargecircuit. If the processor dies or the power fails, the keep alive signalalso ceases, causing termination. The timer advances to a point where itinitiates the battery discharge. Battery current flows through theresistive wire discharging the batteries and melting through themonofilament to release the balloon neck. The battery dischargecontinues until the main batteries are completely dead.

The main platform batteries are fully discharged during descent and ifneeded upon landing to positively terminate and prevent further radiotransmission. Once discharge is initiated, the batteries fully dischargeeliminating the chance of transmitting with significant power. Thebattery discharge can be initiated by the processor as described aboveor automatically when power or processor control is lost. It has beenfound that long duration platform flight at high altitudes and coldtemperatures requires special high-density power and functionalcapabilities at low temperatures. It has been found that lithiumbatteries beneficially fulfill such requirements. Additionally, it wasfound that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that lithiumbased batteries are considered hazardous waste except for one type ofcell and only when fully discharged. Particularly it has been found thatLithium Sulfur Dioxide (LiSO2) batteries, when fully discharged, form alithium salt, which is not considered hazardous by the EPA.Automatically discharging the LiSO2 batteries before they contact theground not only prevents the transmitter from transmitting but alsorenders the batteries non-hazardous for environmentally acceptablelanding on the ground.

Use of a novel and integral “maple seed” like descent device to increasesafety is depicted in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. A single airfoil shaped bladeattached to the bottom of the platform causes autorotation of thepayload and airfoil blade upon rapid descent. This replaces atraditional parachute with a highly reliable decelerator that isgenerally immune to fouling than a parachute and less complex. Nodeployment mechanism is necessary and it is immune to the foulingproblems with animals after descent. The “maple seed” decelerator mayalso be used to conveniently house the platform antenna.

A novel method of platform recovery is depicted in FIG. 9. To aid in therecovery of the platform, the landed platform sends its last recordedposition to an additional airborne platform using a low powertransmitter and tiny battery. The transmitter might utilize one of thelow power unlicensed bands to send the information. The second platformrelays the current location of the landed platform to the ground stationto aid in recovery.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising operating a system, thesystem comprising: an airborne platform comprising an unmanned ballooncomprising a gas enclosure; a pump and a valve; a GPS configured todetermine current geographical coordinates of the unmanned balloon; apayload comprising a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is capable ofcommunicating with communication devices that are separate from theunmanned balloon and include a communication device on the ground and apayload of another operational unmanned balloon, wherein, in operation,the unmanned balloon substantially drifts along with wind currents;first and second flight-termination devices each configured to causetermination of a flight of the unmanned balloon; and at least two powersources each configured to provide power to at least one of the firstand second flight-termination devices; wherein the unmanned balloon isconfigured to be operational above an altitude of about 60,000 feet, andwherein a transmitter operationally related to the unmanned balloon isconfigured to provide a last recorded position of the unmanned balloonsuch that the last recorded position is sent to a station to aid inrecovery of the unmanned balloon; and transmitting data from theairborne platform.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of thefirst and second flight-termination devices is configured toindependently cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloonwhen further operation of the unmanned balloon presents danger to airtraffic.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first andsecond flight-termination devices is configured to cause termination ofthe flight of the unmanned balloon based on a rise rate or a fall rateof the unmanned balloon.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the first and second flight-termination devices is configured toindependently cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloonbased on a malfunction related to the unmanned balloon.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a processor of theunmanned balloon.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the malfunctionincludes failure of a power source of the unmanned balloon.
 7. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the malfunction includes failure of the GPSof the unmanned balloon.
 8. The method of claim 1, the system furthercomprising a tether that when broken separates the gas enclosure and thepayload.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises aplurality of the airborne platforms.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe payload remains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landedunless the payload is separated from the unmanned balloon.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, the system further comprising an antenna.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the pump and the valve are configured tochange an altitude of the airborne platform.
 13. The method of claim 1,the system further comprising a pump and a valve, wherein the payloadremains attached to the unmanned balloon as one when landed unless thepayload is separated from the unmanned balloon, and wherein the pump andthe valve are configured to change a position of the airborne platform.14. A method comprising operating a system, the system comprising: anairborne platform comprising an unmanned balloon comprising a gasenclosure; a GPS configured to determine current geographicalcoordinates of the unmanned balloon; a payload comprising a transceiver,wherein the transceiver is capable of communicating with communicationdevices that are separate from the unmanned balloon and include acommunication device on the ground and a payload of another operationalunmanned balloon, wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloonsubstantially drifts along with wind currents; and a firstflight-termination device configured to cause termination of a flight ofthe unmanned balloon based at least on a determination that furtheroperation of the unmanned balloon presents danger to air traffic, atether that when broken separates the gas enclosure and the payload,wherein the unmanned balloon is configured to be operational above analtitude of about 60,000 feet and wherein a transmitter operationallyrelated to the unmanned balloon is configured to provide a last recordedposition of the unmanned balloon such that the last recorded position issent to aid in recovery of the unmanned balloon; and transmitting datafrom the airborne platform.
 15. The method of claim 14, the systemfurther comprising a second flight-termination device configured tocause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloon; and at leasttwo power sources each configured to provide power to one of the firstand second flight-termination devices.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the second flight-termination device is configured to causetermination of the flight of the unmanned balloon when the firstflight-termination mechanism has failed.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein at least one of the first and second flight-termination devicesis configured to cause termination of the flight of the unmanned balloonbased on a rise rate or a fall rate of the unmanned balloon.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and secondflight-termination devices is configured to cause termination of theflight of the unmanned balloon based on a malfunction of the unmannedballoon.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the malfunction includesfailure of a processor of the unmanned balloon.
 20. The method of claim18, wherein the malfunction includes failure of a power source of theunmanned balloon.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the malfunctionincludes failure of the GPS of the unmanned balloon.
 22. The method ofclaim 14, the system further comprising an antenna.
 23. The method ofclaim 14, the system further comprising at least two geographicalcoordinates tracking system.
 24. The method of claim 14, wherein thesystem comprises a plurality of the airborne platforms.
 25. The methodof claim 14, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmannedballoon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from theunmanned balloon.
 26. The method of claim 14, the system furthercomprising a pump and a valve.
 27. The method of claim 15, wherein thepump and the valve are configured to change an altitude of the airborneplatform.
 28. The method of claim 14, the system further comprising apump and a valve, wherein the payload remains attached to the unmannedballoon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from theunmanned balloon, and wherein the pump and the valve are configured tochange a position of the airborne platform.
 29. A method comprisingoperating a system, the system comprising: an airborne platformcomprising an unmanned balloon; a payload that is separate from theunmanned balloon; a transceiver; first and second flight terminationdevices; at least two separate power sources for the first and secondflight termination devices; a sensor; a processor; a pump; a valve; anda tether that when broken separates the unmanned balloon and thepayload; wherein the pump and the valve are configured to change analtitude of the airborne platform; wherein the sensor comprises apressure sensor; wherein, in operation, the unmanned balloonsubstantially drifts along with the wind currents; wherein thetransceiver is capable of communicating with a communication device thatis separate from the unmanned balloon; wherein each of the first andsecond flight termination devices has an ability to independentlyterminate a flight of the unmanned balloon; wherein at least one of thegeographical coordinates tracking system comprises a GPS; wherein theunmanned balloon is configured to operate above an attitude of about60,000 feet; wherein the unmanned balloon has a flight durationcapability that is longer than that of weather balloons that have flightdurations of approximately 2 hours; wherein the payload is configured tocommunicate with an additional airborne payload attached to a separateunmanned balloon; wherein the payload remains attached to the unmannedballoon as one when landed unless the payload is separated from theunmanned balloon; wherein each of the first and second flighttermination devices has an ability to independently terminate a flightof the unmanned balloon based on a determination that further operationof the unmanned balloon presents a danger to air traffic; wherein eachof the first and second flight termination devices has an ability toindependently terminate a flight of the unmanned balloon based on adetermination of a malfunction of the unmanned balloon; and transmittingdata from the airborne platform.
 30. The method of claim 29, the systemfurther comprising an antenna and at least two geographical coordinatestracking system.